The Brighton Magazine

Selected Brighton Magazine Article

A welcome return to Brighton for UK's leading jazz musician,Courtney Pine.

Courtney Pine: The Ultimate Road Warrior!

No-one better embodies the dramatic transformation in British Jazz than the multi award-winning bandleader and broadcaster.

"Pine maintains his pivotal and inspirational role at the forefront of British Jazz."Blues and Soul

His shows are a must-see, bringing together jazz, reggae, hip hop and drum and bass influences in a totally inclusive way.

This year sees the re-release of his classic Modern Day Jazz Stories (a Mercury Music Prize Album of The Year), so expect to hear old favourites alongside first airings of new album material and gems from his current 'Resistance' set as he makes his Komedia debut.

Courtney's debut album, Journey To The Urge Within in 1987, was the first serious jazz album ever to make the British Top 40, notching up sales to qualify for a silver disc.

It was a remarkable achievement in British jazz history and established Courtney Pine. as the leading figure in the British jazz scene and an inspiration to many young black musicians.

"A walking encyclopedia of advanced saxophony." The Guardian

Having performed at Nelson Mandela's 80th birthday concert at Wembley, he made his debut as musical director on the Windrush Gala Concert for the BBC and led his own band performing arrangements with an all-star line-up at the televised ceremony.

He has recently composed and performed the soundtrack to the BBC's definitive two-part documentary on Nelson Mandela: Mandela - A Living Legend.

In addition to his recording career, Courtney is a renowned presenter and broadcaster, having presented a number of programmes both for TV and radio including his acclaimed specialist jazz show - Courtney Pine's Jazz Crusade on BBC Radio 2.

In 2000 he travelled to South Africa to make a documentary for the BBC on the local musicians whose stories and music revealed a hidden chapter of apartheid.

The programme was critically acclaimed and has since been nominated for two media awards in the category of Best Documentary.

On the live circuit, Courtney is the ultimate road warrior with twenty years touring behind him. He has played across the World from the main stage at Glastonbury to the intimate Blue Note Tokyo, Japan and continues to tour internationally with his award winning band.

His education work has included workshop tours not only in the UK but as far a field as Africa, Asia and South America.

In recognition of his career to date and his contribution to the black community and jazz music, Courtney was awarded an O.B.E in the 2000 New Year's Honours.

He has also been honoured with a Gold Badge Award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters and a Fellowship to The Leeds College of Music.

In December 2005 he was also made an honorary doctor of music by the University of Westminster in London.

Courtney Pine visits Komedia on Thursday 22 February at 8pm.

Tickets are £13.50 and are available without a booking fee on-line at www.komedia.co.uk/brighton or from the Box Office on 01273 647100.

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